,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gjb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #ad1 #bjac ,mr4 ,braley of ,iowa introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to direct the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to establish a ,frontline ,providers ,loan ,repayment ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,access to ,frontline ,health ,care ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,frontline providers loan repayment program ,part ,d of title ,,iii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;b et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating the second subpart ,,xi 7as added by section #ajccc of ,public ,law #aaa-adh7 as subpart ,,xii2 7#b7 by redesignating the second section #cdj;,h 7as added by such section #ajccc7 as section #cdj;,i2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 ,,xiii ,frontline ,health ,care ,services #cdj;,j4 ,frontline ,providers ,loan ,repayment ,program 7a7 ,in ,general ,the ,secretary shall establish and carry out a ,frontline ,providers ,loan ,repayment ,program 7in this section referred to as the ,loan ,repayment ,program7 under which1 pursuant to contracts in accordance with this section-- 7#a7 the ,secretary agrees to make student loan repayments2 and 7#b7 the individual agrees to serve as a health professional for a period of full-time service of not less than #b years at a health care facility serving a frontline care scarcity area4 7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to participate in the ,loan ,repayment ,program1 an individual must-- 7#a7 submit an application to participate in the ,loan ,repayment ,program in such form and manner and at such time as specified by the ,secretary2 and 7#b7 sign and submit to the ,secretary1 at the time of submittal of such application1 a written contract 7described in subsection 7d774 7c7 ,participation in ,program 7#a7 ,in general ,an individual becomes a participant in the ,loan ,repayment ,program only upon the approval of the ,secretary of the individual's application submitted under subsection 7b77#a7 and the ,secretary's acceptance of the contract submitted by the individual under subsection 7b77#b74 7#b7 ,preference ,in awarding contracts under this section1 the ,secretary shall give preference to applicants who have undertaken training or coursework in interdisciplinary studies4 7#c7 ,recruitment for ,interdisciplinary ,programs ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 determine the frontline care scarcity areas in which to place contract recipients under this section2 and 7,b7 in making such determination1 give preference to areas with a demonstrated program of interdisciplinary health care1 or with demonstrated plans to initiate interdisciplinary approaches to community health care4 7#d7 ,notice ,the ,secretary shall provide written notice to an individual promptly upon the ,secretary's approving1 under paragraph 7#a71 of the individual's participation in the ,loan ,repayment ,program4 7d7 ,contract ,the contract described in this subsection is a written contract between the ,secretary and an individual that contains-- 7#a7 an agreement that-- 7,a7 the ,secretary agrees to provide the individual with student loan repayment 7described in subsection 7e77 for a period of time as determined by the ,secretary1 to pay off debts incurred during the course of the study or program described in subsection 7g77#b77;,b72 and 7,b7 the individual agrees-- 7i7 to accept provision of such a student loan repayment to the individual2 and 7ii7 to provide frontline care services for a period of full-time service of not less than #b years at a health care facility serving a frontline care scarcity area2 7#b7 a provision that any financial obligation of the ,united ,states arising out of a contract entered into under this section and any obligation of the individual which is conditioned thereon1 is contingent upon funds being appropriated for student loan repayment under this section2 7#c7 a statement of the damages to which the ,united ,states is entitled1 under subsection 7f71 for the individual's breach of the contract2 and 7#d7 such other statements as the ,secretary deems appropriate of the rights and liabilities of the ,secretary and of the individual1 not inconsistent with the provisions of this section4 7e7 ,student ,loan ,repayment 7#a7 ,amount ,the amount of an annual student loan repayment under this section on behalf of an individual shall be determined by the ,secretary1 and shall take into consideration the need to pay a sufficient amount to enable recruiting of health care providers into the loan repayment program under this section4 7#b7 ,payments ,directly to ,loan ,provider ,the ,secretary may contract with an individual's loan provider1 for the payment to the loan provider1 on behalf of the individual1 of the amounts of a student loan repayment described in paragraph 7#a74 7f7 ,breach of contract ,if an individual breaches a written contract under this section by failing to begin such individual's service obligation1 or to complete such service obligation1 the ,united ,states shall be entitled to recover from the individual an amount that is equal to the sum of-- 7#a7 the total amount which has been paid to the individual1 or on behalf of the individual1 under the contract2 and 7#b7 any amount of interest1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term frontline care scarcity area means an area1 population group1 or facility that-- 7,a7 is designated as a health professional shortage area under section #ccb2 or 7,b7 is designated by the ,state in which the area is located as having a shortage of frontline care services4 7#b7 ,the term frontline care services means health care services-- 7,a7 in the field of general surgery1 optometry1 ophthalmology1 chiropractic1 physical therapy1 audiology1 speech language pathology1 pharmacies1 public health1 podiatric medicine1 dietetics1 occupational therapy1 general pediatrics1 respiratory therapy1 medical technology1 otolaryngology1 or radiologic technology2 and 7,b7 provided by a general surgeon1 optometrist1 ophthalmologist1 chiropractor1 physical therapist1 audiologist1 speech language pathologist1 pharmacist1 public health professional1 podiatric physician1 registered dietician1 occupational therapist1 pediatrician1 respiratory therapist1 medical technologist1 otolaryngologist1 or radiologic technologist who has completed an appropriate course of study or program1 offered by an accredited institution of higher education in the ,united ,states4 7h7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary shall begin implementation of the loan repayment program under this section within #ahj days of the date of the enactment of this section4 4